Tie down device and method of use

Abstract

A tie down device for sheet material such as tarpaulin and the like is disclosed. The device includes a bar and a sleeve. The sleeve has a slit extending from end to end thereof for receiving the bar as well as sheet material which extends around the bar and outwardly through the slit of the sleeve on opposite sides of the bar. In addition, a rope is secured to the bar which extends through the slit when the bar is received in the sleeve. The rope enables the device to be placed under tension so that the bar binds the sheet material extending around the bar against the sleeve. This binding action firmly secures the sheet material to the device and thereby prevents the sheet material from slipping out of the device between the bar and the sleeve. The device also includes means for preventing the bar from sliding out of the sleeve when the device is placed under tension. A tent pole having a tie down device attached at one end of the pole is also disclosed.

I claim:  
     
       1. A tie down device for sheet material such as a tarp and the like, said tie down device comprising: 
       a bar;  
       a sleeve having a slit extending from end to end thereof, said ends being open for receiving said bar and a sheet of material positioned around said bar, said slit enabling the sheet material to project outwardly through said slit on opposite sides of said bar, said bar having a cross section which is sized and configured so that both said bar and the sheet material are capable of being received in said sleeve;  
       rope means secured to said bar and extending through the slit for enabling the device to be placed under tension so that said bar binds the sheet material positioned around said bar against said sleeve to firmly secure the sheet material to the device, thereby preventing the sheet material from slipping out of the device between the bar and the sleeve; and  
       means for preventing said bar from sliding out through said ends of said sleeve when said device is placed under tension.  
     
     
       2. A tie down device as claimed in claim  1  wherein said means for preventing said bar from sliding out of said sleeve includes a notch defined by said sleeve which opens into said main slit of said sleeve for receiving said rope means, said notch preventing said bar from sliding out of said sleeve when said rope means is received in said notch. 
     
     
       3. A tie down device as claimed in claim  2  wherein said rope means includes an eye bolt attached to said bar for being received in said notch to prevent said bar from sliding out of said sleeve. 
     
     
       4. A tie down device as claimed in claim  1  wherein said rope means includes a member selected from the group consisting of rope, cord and cable. 
     
     
       5. A tie down device as claimed in claim  4  wherein said cord includes elastic cord. 
     
     
       6. A tie down device as claimed in claim  1  wherein said means for preventing said bar from sliding out of said sleeve includes a raised portion defined by said bar which is sized and configured for engaging receipt with said sleeve. 
     
     
       7. A tie down device as claimed in claim  1  wherein said means for preventing said bar from sliding out of said sleeve includes a raised portion defined by said bar which is sized and configured for engaging receipt with said main slit and said ends of said sleeve to prevent said bar from sliding out of said sleeve. 
     
     
       8. A tie down device as claimed in claim  1  wherein said means for preventing said bar from sliding out of said sleeve includes a raised portion defined by said bar which is sized and configured for engaging receipt with said main slit and said ends of said sleeve when the sheet material is located between said raised portion of said bar and said main slit and said ends of said sleeve. 
     
     
       9. A tie down device as claimed in claim  1  wherein said means for preventing said bar from sliding out of said sleeve includes a pair of said rope means attached to said bar at opposite ends thereof, said pair of rope means preventing said bar from sliding out of said sleeve when they are tied off at angles with respect to each other so that they pull on said bar from opposite directions. 
     
     
       10. A tie down device as claimed in claim  1  further comprising a pole for attachment to said sleeve. 
     
     
       11. A tie down device as claimed in claim  10  wherein said pole has a tee mounted on an end thereof with a cross portion for receiving said sleeve to attach said pole to said sleeve. 
     
     
       12. A tie down device as claimed in claim  1  further comprising strengthening ribs on said sleeve. 
     
     
       13. A tie down device as claimed in claim  1  wherein said rope means includes elastic cord. 
     
     
       14. A tie down device as claimed in claim  1  wherein said means for preventing said bar from sliding out of said sleeve includes nibs provided on the inside surface of said sleeve adjacent said slit defined by said sleeve and said sleeve's ends, said nibs serving as stops to catch the ends of said bar to prevent the bar from sliding out of the sleeve. 
     
     
       15. A tie down device as claimed in claim  1  wherein said means for preventing said bar from sliding out of said sleeve further prevents said bar from rotating within said sleeve when said device is placed under tension. 
     
     
       16. A support device for sheet material such as a tarpaulin comprising: 
       a bar;  
       a sleeve having a slit extending from end to end thereof, said ends being open for receiving said bar and a sheet of material positioned around said bar, said slit enabling the sheet material to project outwardly through said slit on opposite sides of said bar, said bar having a cross section which is sized and configured so that both said bar and the sheet material are capable of being received in said sleeve;  
       rope means secured to said bar and extending through the slit for enabling the device to be placed under tension so that said bar binds the sheet material positioned around said bar against said sleeve to firmly secure the sheet material to the device, thereby preventing the sheet material from slipping out of the device between the bar and the sleeve; and  
       a pole for attachment to said sleeve.  
     
     
       17. A support device as claimed in claim  16  further comprising a tee for attaching said pole to said sleeve, said tee having an end for receiving an end of said pole, said tee also having a cross portion for receiving said sleeve. 
     
     
       18. A method of securely tying down sheet material such as a tarp over an object be covered by the sheet material, said method comprising the steps of: 
       providing a tie down devices including:  
       a bar;  
       a sleeve having a slit extending from end to end thereof, said ends being open for receiving said bar and a sheet of material positioned around said bar, said slit enabling the sheet material to project outwardly through said slit on opposite sides of said bar, said bar having a cross section which is sized and configured so that both said bar and the sheet material are capable of being received in said sleeve;  
       rope means secured to said bar and extending through the slit for enabling the device to be placed under tension so that said bar binds the sheet material positioned around said bar against said sleeve to firmly secure the sheet material to the device, thereby preventing the sheet material from slipping out of the device between the bar and the sleeve; and  
       means for preventing said bar from sliding out of said sleeve when said device is placed under tension;  
       covering an object with sheet material;  
       tying down said sheet material at a first location on said sheet material;  
       attaching said tie down device to the sheet material at a different location on said sheet material; and  
       tying off said rope means of said tie down device to place said device under tension to securely tie down the sheet material covering the object.  
     
     
       19. A method as claimed in claim  18  wherein said sheet material at the first location is tied down with a said tie down device. 
     
     
       20. A method as claimed in claim  18  further comprising tying down said sheet material at a plurality of other locations with a plurality of said tie down devices. 
     
     
       21. A method as claimed in claim  18  wherein said rope means includes an elastic cord which is placed under tension when said device is tied off. 
     
     
       22. A device for attachment to sheet material such as a tarp and the like, said device comprising: 
       an elongated bar having a raised portion and a sleeve having a slit extending from end to end thereof, said ends being open for receiving said bar and a sheet of material positioned around said bar, said slit enabling the sheet material to project outwardly therethrough on opposite sides of said bar, said bar having a cross section which is sized and configured so that both said bar and the sheet material are capable of being received in said sleeve, said raised portion of said bar being sized and configured to engage said sleeve so that said bar is prevented from rotating within said sleeve and sliding out of said sleeve when the sheet material is tensioned, said bar and raised portion also binding the sheet material positioned around said bar against said sleeve when the sheet material is tensioned.  
     
     
       23. A device as claimed in claim  22  wherein said raised portion is sized and configured for engaging receipt with said ends of said sleeve to prevent said bar from rotating within said sleeve and sliding out of said sleeve when the sheet material is tensioned. 
     
     
       24. A device as claimed in claim  22  wherein said raised portion is sized and configured for engaging receipt with said slit and said ends of said sleeve to prevent said bar from rotating within said sleeve and sliding out of said sleeve when the sheet material is tensioned. 
     
     
       25. A device for attachment to sheet material such as a tarp and the like, said device comprising: 
       an elongated bar having a raised portion and a sleeve having a slit extending from end to end thereof, said ends being open for receiving said bar and a sheet of material positioned around said bar, said bar having a cross section which is sized and configured so that both said bar and the sheet material are capable of being received in said sleeve, said raised portion of said bar being sized and configured to engage said ends of said sleeve so that said bar is prevented from sliding out of said sleeve when the sheet material is tensioned.